Major General Aharon Haliva, head of Israeli military intelligence, has resigned following the devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Haliva acknowledged the intelligence division's failure to foresee and prevent the attack, stating in his resignation letter, "The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I have carried that black day with me ever since."
He will remain in his post until a successor is appointed. Further resignations are anticipated once the military campaign in Gaza concludes.
The October 7 attack witnessed thousands of Hamas fighters breaching Gaza's high-tech security barriers, overwhelming Israeli forces and wreaking havoc on communities near the enclave.
Israeli officials report approximately 1,200 Israeli and foreign casualties, primarily civilians, with around 250 individuals taken captive in Gaza. Of these captives, 133 remain hostages.
The attack severely tarnished the reputation of the Israeli military and intelligence services, previously considered virtually invincible.
While Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, head of the armed forces, and Ronen Bar, head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, accepted responsibility following the attack, they have remained in their positions during the ongoing war in Gaza.
In contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to accept responsibility, despite surveys indicating that most Israelis hold him accountable for insufficient action in preventing or defending against the attack.